The Night Before Christmas

· by Steven Curtis Chapman

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Lyrics

It was the (Bm7)night be (A)fore (D)Christ mas,

it seemed and (Bm7)all through (A)the (D)world

ev ’ry (Bm7)thing looked like (F#m)bus’ ness as (G)u su al.

Shep herds (Bm7)sat on (A)a (D)hill side

look ing (Bm7)up at (A)the stars

the while the (Bm7)world fell a sleep,

while un a (Bm7)ware just (Bm7)how deep

was the (Em9)dark ness the (Gmaj7)night be fore (Bm7)Christ mas.

And the (Bm7)night be (A)fore (D)Christ mas,

it seemed to (Bm7)be just (A)a (D)night,

but the (Bm7)wind blew like (F#m)some thing was (G)com ing.

al.

And like (Bm7)chil dren (A)with (D)se crets

that they’re (Bm7)burst ing (A)to tell,

the ce dars (Bm7)danced in the breeze,

while all of (Bm7)na ture, (Bm7)it seemed,

held its (Em9)breath on the (Gmaj7)night be fore (Bm7)Christ mas.

And the

And (Bm)hope,

(E)hope long a wait ed,

the (D)hope of

the (C)a

(G)ges

would (Em7)break with the dawn.

And the (Bm)song

that (E)all of cre a tion

was (D)an tic i (C)pat

(G)ing

would (Gm)start

with a ba by’s first (A)cry.

And on the (CN.C.)night be fore (Bm7)Christ mas,

Mar y (Bm7)laid down to (D)rest,

while (Bm7)Jo seph, he (F#m)paced the floor (G)pray ing.

And in an (Bm7)ev ’ry day (D)sta ble

in an (Bm7)ev ’ry day town,

in the (Bm7)ho urs to come

God would (Bm7)wrap Him (Bm7)self (Gmaj7)up

and (Bm7)come down from (F#m)heav en, and the (Gmaj7)world would for (D)ev er be (Em9)changed

(Gsus2)af ter

the night be fore Christ mas.

The Night Before Christmas by Steven Curtis Chapman — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Night Before Christmas” by Steven Curtis Chapman in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of D at 96 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Night Before Christmas" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "The Night Before Christmas"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "The Night Before Christmas" use?: Just 15 chords: A, Bm, Bm7, C, D, Dmaj7, E, Em7, +7 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Steven Curtis Chapman songs work for kids?: Try "MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION", "HOW DO I LOVE HER", "I'M GONNA BE". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.